[SOA Watch/NE] Holiday Bash & Upcoming Events!

[Soawnortheast at aol.com]

Enclosed in this email:

I.    "Poverty in the Midst of War" Slide Presentation and Photo Exhibit Mon. 
Dec. 12 - Philly

II.    SOA Watch/NE & Jean Donovan CPC Annual Holiday Bash! Fri. Dec 16!

III.   Photos from the SOA Protest & El Salvador

IV.   A Call for the Immediate Release of the 4 Members of the Christian 
Peacemakers Team (CPT) being held in Iraq.

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I. "Poverty in the Midst of War" - Slide presentation and Photo Exhibit by 
Linda Panetta

Monday, Dec. 12
7:30 PM
St Augustine Church
4th & Vine Streets, Philly

- Come see the photographs and hear about the people living in the war 
ravaged communities of Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua… 
Photo Exhibit will accompany the presentation.

For additional info please contact Sean: 215-627-1838 x16

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II. Please Join Us for our 2005 Holiday Celebration & Potluck!

Friday, December 16, 2005 
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Jean Donovan Community Peace Center  (JDCPC)
6367 Overbrook Ave ~ Philadelphia

A Special Invitation from SOA Watch/NE, the Jean Donovan Community Peace 
Center  
& the Mariposa Outreach Project to our Dear Friends & Supporters… 

Now, more than ever, we must come together and celebrate our collective 
efforts to bring about greater peace, justice and an end to conflicts around the 
world!  Join us on Dec. 16 to share a meal, celebrate friendship, solidarity and 
the holiday season.

Need a Holiday gift?  Beautifully colored photos taken recently in El 
Salvador, Chiapas, as well as newly printed photos from Afghanistan will be displayed 
and available for purchase.  A selection of prints from Iraq, Guatemala, and 
the jungles of N. Colombia will also make a wonderful gift (and conversation 
piece) for the holidays.  Several smaller (8x12) prints from the SOA protests 
will also be exhibited and available for purchase.  

To view a partial selection of photos visit: www.OpticalRealities.org - you 
can also order a print in advance (for example: photos of children at play in 
Haiti) to be sure you have your holiday gift - All purchases can be tax 
deductible and support our ongoing work!
     
We invite you to bring your favorite holiday casserole, salad, dessert, 
bread, or beverage to our potluck.  Please RSVP at (215) 477-5892 with your name, 
the number of people coming, and what you are bringing to share.  Please bring 
family and friends - children are most welcome!

We look forward to an evening of great conversation, delicious food and 
lively music - bring your voices, musical instruments and favorite songs & carols! 
-

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III. SOA Protest / El Salvador Photos

They just don't get it … We're not going away until the SOA / WHINSEC is 
closed for good!  Nearly 20,000 gathered this year, and if it so happens that we 
don't pull off a victory this year in Congress, thousands (maybe even tens of 
thousands) of people will come back next year, and dozens will be inspired to 
cross the line, to say NOT IN MY NAME ! 

> I had the incredible privilege of traveling to El Salvador shortly after 
the protest in Georgia.  Prior to leaving I was able to post several pages of 
photos on the SOA Watch/NE website - (www.soawne.org) several more will be 
posted throughout the week.  You can also find photos (the pages are still being 
worked on, but many more will also be forthcoming by the end of the week - 
www.OpticalRealities.org -) from my trip to El Salvador to commemorate the lives of 
the 4 US Churchwomen - Srs. Maura Clark, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel and Jean 
Donavon who were brutally raped and murdered in San Salvador 25 years ago.  I 
apologize for the delay in getting these photos on the website, but you can also 
check out the last issue and the upcoming issues of the National Catholic 
Reporter for additional photos and coverage of the 2 events!

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IV. A Call for the Immediate Release of the 4 Members of the Christian 
Peacemakers Team (CPT) being Held in Iraq


I had the privilege of meeting with members of the CPT during our trip to 
Iraq in 2003. They are committed individuals whose work and research is an 
absolute necessity to helping to bring to light the terrible atrocities being 
committed in Iraq. We, at SOA Watch/NE, join the international community in 
appealing for the immediate release of these four Peacemakers. - Linda Panetta, 
Director, SOA Watch/NE

Furthermore, we fully support the letter released on Monday (Dec. 5) by the 
National Council of Churches: "Like us, they too (members of the CPT) opposed 
the US attack. They came to serve the Iraqi people. They came not only to urge 
peace but also to live peace. We who have opposed the US invasion and 
occupation of Iraq call on all who live in Iraq to seek the release of these people 
into safety and freedom. And we call on all people of good will everywhere to 
join in this call.No doubt, those who planned and executed the US invasion and 
occupation of Iraq will cite this action as evidence for the rightness of their 
action. We utterly reject this logic, and affirm that the war undertaken by 
the US has multiplied the violence it pretended to oppose..." To sign this 
letter and to view it in its entirety visit: www.faithfulamerica.org/ or visit the 
CPT website: www.cpt.org/index.html 
(as requested, this statement is also posted on our website)

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Many thanks for all your ongoing support and solidarity and Happy Holidays!
Much Peace,
The Staff & volunteers at SOA Watch/NE








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